‘The Boys’ Recap: ‘Wisdom of the Ages’

6/21/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Murray Furrow and Antony Starr as Martin and Homelander in Episode 404 of ‘The Boys’ – ‘Wisdom of the Ages’. (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 404 of ‘The Boys’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

As we continue our journey through season four of the hit Prime Video series, The Boys, it is now becoming clear how year four is going to go from a storytelling standpoint. In that, this season is going to be a mix of character study and commentary on our modern world. Wherein we face the horrors of the far-right/MAGA movement that is growing in this universe as well, as the characters face their past and try to grow and find the peace they’ve never known in this show. And never was that more evident than during this week’s episode of the show, and that made ‘Wisdom of the Ages’, quite the compelling and engaging tale.

For it allowed for us to explore the right way and the wrong way to handle our past and of course what goes into resolving it and finding peace and much of the positive side of handling that, was handled by Hughie in this tale. Because his father being on death’s door really put life in perspective and gave him a wild idea in which to make peace with yesterday. In that, if he could see real remorse from A-Train, and see a real moment of emotional growth, he would just forgive him. Forgive him to start moving forward and healing and that was why he tasked A-Train with getting him some V for his father. Because that would and did produce what he hoped for. Giving Hughie peace and reminding us outright… that we have to have grace and forgiveness in our hearts to let go of the past, otherwise… we turn into Homelander.

Because there are some who use the past as fuel to function and let its darkness give them strength, and when and if they try to resolve it, without grace and forgiveness, and a dash of honesty as to what they really need to work on… what comes forth is nothing but madness. Which Homelander put on display here by going home. Or more specifically, the lab where he was grown into Vought’s prized hero and the nightmare threatening the world now, and well… this went awful. Simply because Homelander was deeply interested in imparting pain upon those who imparted pain upon him. Which led to a fiery and cruel sequence of events that left the staff that formed his darkness, dead in horrible ways and truly, this hammered home how not to handle settling one’s past and why we should never let the darkness win.

Valorie Curry and Chace Crawford as Firecracker and The Deep in Episode 404 of ‘The Boys’ – ‘Wisdom of the Ages’. (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video.)

But while those two elements would have been enough to carry this episode, it threw in a bonus lesson on the matter. Specifically, that sometimes, confronting our past won’t quite bring us the exact peace we think it will. Which was explored through Frenchie and Kimiko. Since Kimiko discovered that the mistakes we make can never be corrected and we have to learn to live with that, and she learned that… after ripping more people to shreds since the Shining Light wasn’t done with her yet, and Frenchie… also learned the same lesson. Because after taking a beating in this tale he finally confessed to Colin, his past transgressions. Which brought about more pain and not the resolution he hoped for… but that is how this goes sometimes.

However, there was mention of the show’s trademark commentary on our world being present here, and that… came about through the past as well. Since Firecracker hosted a live show outside of Starlight’s foundation, wherein she poked and prodded and exposed Annie’s past, and despite the Boys’ best efforts to shame Firecracker into backing off, she tripled down and played the victim to get Annie to snap. Which was all part of Sage’s successful plan to have the nation watch Starlight beat the hell out of Firecracker on live television to whip up more disdain and more frenzy and that… is something in practice now. Wherein the Right pushes others to push back to immediately look sorrowful and wounded, as though they are being persecuted, when they are in fact, just being a-holes.

But alas, it works and brings people to their cause, and we have to find a better way of dealing with it since this is the playbook for MAGA morons. All of which made, for another amazing episode. One that truly offered up more amazing moments, and some incredible acting. With Antony Starr leading the charge here since he sold the madness, and pain, and fury of Homelander in an epic manner. Plus, the stage was also set here for some big moments down the line. Since Starlight’s mistakes will have echoes for episodes on end and of course, it’s a big deal that Hughie’s dad is seemingly awake because of a potential decision mom made, and clearly… something is up with Butcher in a wild way and all of this, has us eager for next Thursday’s episode. So, we can enjoy more of the raw brilliance of the show’s commentary and so we can share in more amazing moments with these dynamic characters. Until next time.

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